UNIFIED APPLIED AND CLASS VOICE SYLLABUS
2014/2015 APPLIED VOICE STUDIES
MUA 221-522
Applied Voice
Fall 2014
Joyce Sylvester
LPAC 1123, 460-8194
sylvester@southalabama.edu
Course Description
Applied Voice is the study of singing at varied levels of musical and technical
difficulty in the private studio setting. The student receives highly individualized
instruction based on inherent, native vocal ability and degree concentration. Basic
principles of singing such as breathing, tone production, legato singing, resonance,
and synthesis of breath and sound are taught in a sequential approach that is
reinforced with exploration of exercises, vocalises, and appropriate solo and chamber
repertoire for the singer.
Course Topical Outline
The minimum course requirements for a typical semester of applied voice study:
COURSE
#
MUA 222
MUA 322
MUA 423
MUA 522
NUMBER OF SONGS
NUMBER OF
STUDIED PER
SEMESTER
SONGS
PREPARED
FOR JURY
4 + 1 chamber piece*
5+1 chamber piece*
6 + 1 chamber piece*
8 + 1 chamber piece*
4
5
6
8
NUMBER OF
LESSONS
RECITAL CLASS
PERFORMANCE
WEEKLY
1
1
1
1
ATTEND
MASTER
CLASSES
1
2
2
2
mandatory
mandatory
mandatory
mandatory
*Chamber pieces will be selected and /or added at the discretion of the instructor;
however, the chamber piece must be part of required repertoire at the barrier exam.
Students enrolled in voice are responsible for furnishing an appropriate accompanist
as needed. The applied teacher will work with the student on securing an
accompanist.
Course Goals and Objectives
The goal of applied voice study at USA is to supply each student with the tools and
process required to master the fundamentals of vocal artistry and technique. It is only
upon such a firm foundation that an advanced singing career can be built. Whether
the student’s interest is classical or commercial singing, the basic elements of vocal
education are constant. Through the experience of standard song, oratorio, opera,
concert, chamber music, and music theater repertoire, a singer’s skills and range of
expression is developed. It is our aim, therefore, to be specific in applying the
standards, practices, and expectations for a career in singing. Recital Class is held
every week on Monday from 2:30 – 3:45 PM in the Laidlaw Performing Arts
Center Recital Hall. Attendance at Recital Class is mandatory for all music
majors at the 222, 322 and 423 levels, and it is strongly recommended that all
vocal area students attend whenever possible.
Course Pre-Requisites
All students enrolled in applied voice will have successfully auditioned for the vocal
area faculty for study at the 200 level. Students enrolled in 300 level and above must
have successfully completed required semesters of 200 level study and passed the
vocal barrier exam.
Course Materials
It is expected that a student enrolled in applied voice are in the process of preparing
for a professional career as a musician; therefore, the acquirement of vocal literature
in building one’s personal music library for future use is also expected. It is the
student’s responsibility to purchase assigned music once repertoire is assigned by the
teacher. The teacher will guide the student in how and where to purchased required
collections and materials.
•
Repertoire Requirements
Under their teacher’s supervision, each student will choose an appropriate number of
songs to learn for their level during the semester. Literature must be chosen
according to the USA Vocal Area Guidelines, including:
• Sacred or oratorio (in English or Latin)
• Early Italian (music written before 1800)
• French mélodie (Romantic period)
• German lied (Romantic period)
• 20th century English art song
• Chamber Music with at least one instrument other than piano
• Music Theater, Opera, and Operetta
Upper level Voice Majors (300 and above) are expected to study song cycles, operatic
arias and other concert works. The teacher will assist the student in exploration and
expansion of vocal repertoire.
Attendance Policy
Regular studio contact is imperative for successful assimilation of both technique and
repertoire. Singing is a physical act that requires supervised and consistent training;
therefore, excessive absences impede the student’s ability to grasp concepts and
achieve artistic confidence. Prior notification of any absence is required by leaving a
message 24 hours in advance, by phone or email. One unexcused absence will result
in the automatic lowering of the student’s semester grade by one grade point. Two
unexcused absences will result in the student being dropped from applied study.
•
Studio Master Class
Studio Master Class is a monthly group meeting of applied voice students in which
performance issues and techniques are addressed Studio Master Class will meet on
the SECOND THURSDAY of each month. Attendance at all studio and unified
area master classes is mandatory for those studying at the 200 level and above.
Jury and barrier examination preparation is a specific focus, as well as other
performance issues. There is no additional fee for Studio Class or Unified Master
Class. Other workshops will be offered for the entire Vocal Area throughout the year.
•
Accompanist for Lessons
Having an accompanist at voice lessons maximizes the ability of the professor to
concentrate on all aspects of a student’s vocal growth and progress. It also
strengthens the student’s collaborative musicianship. Students will be provided an
accompanist for their jury and/or recital by the university; however, payment for an
accompanist at weekly lessons is the responsibility of the student. The department
now requires the weekly accompaniment fee to be paid in the Music Office. This fee
must be paid on or before Friday, October 3, or a hold will be placed on future
student registration.
Fall 2014 Semester
Some measure of flexibility will be factored into the studio schedule to allow for weather
emergencies, etc. Since all students do not progress at the same rate, this schedule and
other requirements such as assignments and performances may be modified as
circumstances dictate. Appropriate advance notice will be given in writing during class
in an effort to conform to the spirit of policy statement 6.3.1 of the University of South
Alabama Faculty Handbook. Regular attendance will insure that students are informed
as to any changes made in the semester schedule or other course requirements. In the
event that your teacher must miss a lesson, it will be rescheduled at the convenience of
the student and the teacher. All missed lessons due to teacher absences will be made
up – preferably, in advance of the absence when possible. Lessons missed due to
unexcused absence on the part of the student will not be made up. Regardless of
holiday occurrence in the university calendar of classes, each student will receive 14
lessons during the semester. Therefore, some lesson times must be adjusted during
the semester to accommodate such schedule variations.
As it is certain that we can only begin to be artists after the music is memorized and we
are away from the page, the following schedule of assignments should help any voice
student to feel secure with the literature well before jury time.
Timetable for vocal applied studies
Week of August 25, 2014
Week of September 2, 2014
Saturday, September 20,
2014
Friday, October 3, 2014
October 6-7, 2014
Friday, October 10, 2014
October 13/14, 2014
October 24 and 26, 2014
Week of November 3, 2014
November 21 and 23, 2014
December 2, 2014
December 4, 2014
Monday, December 8, 2014
Syllabus Distribution and Semester Planning
All literature chosen and approved, request for accompanists
submitted to Dr. Arakawa
Alabama NATS Fall Workshop with Don Simonson,
Huntingdon College, Montgomery
Auditions for USA Opera Theatre Spring Production: Mozart’s
Abduction from the Seraglio, LPAC Recital Hall 2-5 p.m.
Fall Break
Thomas Rowell, Faculty Voice Recital, 7:30 p.m. LPAC Recital
Hall: An Evening of British Music
Fall Choral Concert: University Chorale and USA Concert
Choir, LPAC Recital Hall, 7:30 pm
Mobile Opera production of Massenet’s Werther, Mobile Civic
Center Theater
ALL REPERTOIRE MEMORIZED
USA Opera Theatre Gala Scenes Concert, LPAC Recital Hall
Holiday Concert: University Chorale and USA Concert Choir,
LPAC Recital Hall, 7:30 pm
USA President’s Holiday Concert
Voice Juries, LPAC Recital Hall
Grading Criteria
Each lesson will be graded on a scale of 0 – 5 (0 being lowest, 5 being highest) and
grading will reflect preparation and improvement in eight areas of development as
listed in the rubric below:
Preparation
Intonation
Musical
Accuracy
Breath
Management
Diction
Dynamic
Expression
Interpretation
& Musicality
Sight
Reading
INITIAL
AVERAGE
Assignments for successive lessons will be made at each lesson, and the student is
expected to prepare repertoire, exercises and vocalises accordingly. The average of
each category will be lesson grade, and the student will be made aware of the lesson
grade at the end of each lesson. The lesson grades are averaged at the end of the
semester prior to applied voice juries to determine the studio grade.
The final grade for applied voice is determined as follows:
Studio grade = 2/3 of final grade
Jury grade = 1/3 of final grade
Letter grades will be assigned percentages for averaging in this manner:
• A
4.0 – 5.0
• B
3.0 – 3.9
• C
2.0 – 2.9
• D
1.0 – 1.9
• F
0 – 0.9
Office Hours
A minimum of 6 (six) hours per week are available for student consultation. Please
consult the schedule on the office door for available times.
Academic Disruption Policy
The University of South Alabama’s policy regarding Academic Disruption is found
in The Lowdown, the student handbook:
http://www.southalabama.edu/lowdown/academicdisruption.shtml:
Disruptive academic behavior is defined as individual or group conduct that interrupts or
interferes with any educational activity or environment, infringes upon the rights and privileges
of others, results in or threatens the destructionof property and/or is otherswise prejudicial to
the maintenance of order in an academic environment.
Students are expected to maintain cordiality, courteousness and respectful treatment
of faculty members and fellow students.
Student Academic Conduct Policy
The University of South Alabama’s policy regarding Student Academic Conduct is
found in The Lowdown, the student handbook:
http://www.southalabama.edu/lowdown/academicconductpolicy.shtml:
The University of South Alabama is a community of scholars in which the ideals of freedom of
inquiry, freedom of thought, freedom of expression, and freedom of the individual are sustained.
The University is committed to supporting the exercise of any right guaranteed to individuals
by the Constitution and the Code of Alabama and to educating students relative to their
responsibilities.
Students who fail to comply with the standards of academic integrity as set forth by
the University will be penalized through lowered grading initially and any infraction
will be communicated to the department chair. Further infractions will result in
academic misconduct proceedings at the college level.
Students with Disabilities
In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, students with bona fide
disabilities will be afforded reasonable accommodation. The Office of Special
Student Services (OSSS) will certify a disability and advise your faculty members of
reasonable accommodations. If you have a specific disability that qualifies you for
academic accommodations, please notify the instructor/professor and provide
certification from the Office of Special Student Services. OSSS is located at 5828 Old
Shell Road at Jaguar Drive, (251-460-7212).
JagAlert Early Alert Program
All 100-200 level classes at USA are required to participate in the JagAlert Early
Alert Program. This academic aid is a mechanism for faculty to identify students
who are struggling with course requirements and attendance in the first half of the
semester and to enable communication between the student and professor to provide
opportunities for success in course work.
Maintenance of Hearing, Vocal, and Musculoskeletal Health and Injury Prevention
Hearing, vocal, and musculoskeletal health, as well as injury prevention is important
for all musicians but especially for student musicians. If you have concerns regarding
your hearing, vocal, or musculoskeletal health or for injury prevention, please discuss
your concerns with your applied professor, area coordinator, ensemble director, or
department chair.
More information on hearing health can be found at:
http://nasm.arts-accredit.org/index.jsp?page=NASM-PAMA_Hearing_Health;
http://nasm.arts-accredit.org/site/docs/PAMANASM_Advisories/3a_NASM_PAMA-Student_Orientation_Script-Standard.pdf;
or from the University of South Alabama Speech Pathology and Audiology
Department at:
http://www.southalabama.edu/alliedhealth/speechandhearing/contactus.html
More information on vocal health can obtained from your applied professor or the
University of South Alabama Speech Pathology and Audiology Department at:
http://www.southalabama.edu/alliedhealth/speechandhearing/contactus.html
More information on musculoskeletal health and injury prevention can be obtained
from your applied professor or the University of South Alabama Physical Therapy
Department at:
http://www.southalabama.edu/alliedhealth/pt/contactus.html
University of South Alabama Voice Faculty
Megan King, M. M. (Soprano)
Instructor of Music
Applied Voice, Diction
LPAC 1123/ (251) 460-6136
meganking@southalabama.edu
Laura Moore, D.M.A. (Mezzo soprano)
Associate Professor of Music
Director of Choral Activities
LPAC 1103/(251) 460-6361
lauramoore@southalabama.edu
Thomas L. Rowell, D.M.A. (Tenor)
Associate Professor of Music
Area Coordinator: Vocal Studies
Applied Voice, Director of Opera,
Vocal Pedagogy, Song Literature
LPAC 1131 / (251) 460-6238
trowell@southalabama.edu
Joyce Sylvester, M.M. (Soprano)
Instructor
Applied Voice, Class Voice
LPAC 1123 / (251) 414-8194
sylvester@southalabama.edu
Linda Zoghby, M.M. (Soprano)
Assistant Professor of Music
Applied Voice
LPAC 1123 / (251) 460-6292
lzoghby@southalabama.edu